2023: The year I decided to get certified in
Java
I started using Java in 2007, after getting my bachelor's degree in Computer Science at 2007 in Madrid, Spain.
-Btw, at that time I discovered this forum too! -
From AWT to Spring Cloud, passing through
JDBC, Standalone apps,
JEE,
Servlets,
JSP,
Struts, Hibernate, JPA, Spring and Android; i decided last december that the time for a new challenge was arrived. So i decided to buy the OCP book by Scoot and Jeanne and start my preparation of the OCP 17.
At the begining i have to admit that it was a little disappointing: the contents and the tone of the exams weren't the expected. I mean, you can pass the exam, but that does not guarantee that you are a good programmer. Many of the questions reflect unreal situations, taking language to the limit. But, anyway, I decided to continue.
Also there was positive things: preparing the exam let you discover new APIs and reinforce others.
Due to a professional matter ( i work as trainner ) i needed to get certified before July, so I bought the exam on May, and faced the
test on June.
In the middle of the exam....BOOOM! 502 - Server error. They had only passed 30 minutes and couldn't retry the exam.
They just tell me: "make a complaint vía Oracle website"
I also wrote them via e-mail, telling my situation and attaching the pics / evidences and praying for a positive reply.
Bureaucracy is slow so, meanwhile i tried to get other opportunity, because i needed to get certified in less than 10 days.
So, then, I decided to try the Java Foundations as it was also valid for certified my knowledges for the company.
After preparing for a Marathon (OCP), facing the Foundations was a child's play: passed with a 94% spending less than one hour.
-Btw, now remember that scheduling the Foundations was not easy. Even i needed technical assitance via Zoom, because the system did not let me to choose a date.
There was a conflict whit the other exam (OCP)-
Finally, after two weeks, the answered me saying OK, we give you other opportunity, as an extra "free exam"
Once I got over the emergency, I thought on retake the OCP later, by the end of the year, on Christmas holidays. But time flies and when i checked the experation date it was on November 8th (when i bought the exam on May 12th)
Again, at the end of October, i retake the preparation and studied as much i could...
Finally, I faced the exam last week, the limit day and i Passed it with a 70% socore (35/50) Real Madrid scores at the end....yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh!!!
I am very happy and proud and so i wanted to share my happiness and expirience with all of you
Just some points to highlight:
* In my opinion If is your first time preparing the OCP and you have quite experience you need from 1 to 3 months of exclusive prepartion
Obviusly, I am Spanish, and making the exam in English is a handicap you may not suffer.
Give you 6 months if you have some expirience using Java
Give you 1 year if you are newbie
* As materials I used the Study Guide book (easy exams), the sybex on-line exams (medium) and the enthuware (the most realistic)
One advice: Dont spend your attempt if you dont usually scores over 75% on enthuware's test.
In my case, i sometimes got 83%, others very adjusted 72%-68% and others suspended with 65%-58%
* Also, i build some eclipse java projects where i put and try some code from the exams and make my notes and reminders ordered by subjects (finally i got a PDF of 150 pages )
* Once you pass the cert, the nexts OCP's will be much more easier. Because the contents and format will be similiar, except the new feautres. I hope!!!
Thanks to all the community and...only one more question???
where is the OCPJ 17 wall of fame?? here
http://www.pmsas.pr.gov.br/wp-content/?id=coderanch-1z0-809&exam=wiki/659976/OCPJP-Wall-Fame i only see till the 11th
and the Foundations wall?
Thank you again for your support.
Good luck!
ps: sorry for my bad english !